One thing most people don't really know is while oil accounts for between 20-25% of Abu Dhabi's GDP it only accounts for between 1-2% of Dubai's. Everyone thinks Dubai is a rich oil country. It used to be, but they went all-in on tourism and it payed off. Abu Dhabi is trying to do some of the same but they aren't there yet. I saw people in the X comments saying how they make so much from oil, but that's not entirely the case.
Regardless, that's how they are able to do such a good thing - and why. Dubai is a great place to visit - lots of stuff to do and the people are very friendly. I went to Abu Dhabi on a day trip to help a university deal with an IDS that was giving them problems, but I didn't really do anything else so I can't speak for how nice they are (the University people I met were nice) or how much stuff they have to do. Both Abu Dhabi and Dubai want to make sure they keep their tourism industry growing and popular.
From Google:
As of early 2026, Dubai’s economy is heavily diversified with oil accounting for less than 1–2% of its GDP, while tourism contributes roughly 20%. Conversely, Abu Dhabi remains more reliant on hydrocarbons, with oil-related activities accounting for approximately 22.7% of its GDP in early 2025. Tourism is a growing, yet smaller, segment in Abu Dhabi.
Yes, before forming the United Arab Emirates in 1971, the region was primarily known as the Trucial States or Trucial Oman. This name reflected a series of treaties between individual emirates and the British Empire starting in 1853, which established the region as a British protectorate.
One thing most people don't really know is while oil accounts for between 20-25% of Abu Dhabi's GDP it only accounts for between 1-2% of Dubai's. Everyone thinks Dubai is a rich oil country. It used to be, but they went all-in on tourism and it payed off. Abu Dhabi is trying to do some of the same but they aren't there yet. I saw people in the X comments saying how they make so much from oil, but that's not entirely the case.
Regardless, that's how they are able to do such a good thing - and why. Dubai is a great place to visit - lots of stuff to do and the people are very friendly. I went to Abu Dhabi on a day trip to help a university deal with an IDS that was giving them problems, but I didn't really do anything else so I can't speak for how nice they are (the University people I met were nice) or how much stuff they have to do. Both Abu Dhabi and Dubai want to make sure they keep their tourism industry growing and popular.
From Google:
I know Dubai focused on tourism and I didn't know about Abu Dhabi. UAE used to go by a different name, am I right?
Yes - I didn't know this. From Google:
That's right. Oman. I remember now. I know the son of an ambassador from there during my college years.